Brazilian Samba, Detroit Funk From Polish Basia

Need proof that the world is a small place? Singer/songwriter Basia (pronounced BA-sha) was raised in Poland and lives in London, and her music is steeped in both sensual, Brazilian-shaded samba and horn-spiked Detroit funk. Is that international enough for you?

Playing Thursday to a packed house at the Roxy, the slim, simply dressed vocalist focused largely on tunes from her appealing debut album, “Time and Tide,” the title cut of which is the most soulful of the lot. Basia sings in a lightly accented manner that swings from gently inviting to brash, full-throated and earthy.

With most new artists you can listen to their voices and play spot-the-influence, but aside from her lightly jazzy Astrud Gilberto inflections--not as pronounced at the Roxy as on the album--Basia comes across as an original.

Still, the most touching section of her set was when she sang several songs from Aretha Franklin’s “Greatest Hits” album--”The first album I ever bought,” she told the audience. Listening to her sail her way through “Until You Come Back to Me,” “Baby I Love You” and “Respect,” you could picture this skinny little kid in Poland, sitting next to the record player and listening to that album over and over until she got it note-by-note perfect. Basia’s music seems to be about breaking down boundaries, and that’s something she accomplished Thursday night.